At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to support vulnerable children and families in Walsall.
- Company: Join Walsall Council, the only Ofsted 'Outstanding' local authority in the Black Country.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, professional development, and discounts on various services.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team dedicated to positive change and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing teams and supporting children and families is essential.
The predicted salary is between 50269 - 50269 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for the recruitment of an Assistant Team Manager within Turning Point, our Adolescent support hub in Walsall.
About the service
Turning Point is an Adolescent support service, providing help and support to children aged between 8 and 18 years old who are experiencing difficulties in family relationships. Turning Point adopts a co-working model of intervention alongside Family Help practitioners and social workers within the Family Help Service and social workers within the Children in our Care Service. Turning Point provides intensive family support and intervention for approximately 20 weeks, which is flexible to the needs of the family. Turning Point intervention focuses on prevention of children and young people coming into the care of the local authority by utilising the AMBIT model (Adaptive mentalisation based integrative treatment) to provide planned intensive support to a family where complex needs are identified in order to empower and enable the family to work together to remain living as a family. In addition, Turning Point supports reunification for children in our care to return to the care of their parents or wider family, supporting prior to, during and following the reunification to support stable and sustainable family relationships. Turning Point uses assessment tools based around the AMBIT approach with the ultimate aim of supporting young people and their parents/carers to be able to mentalise each other and understand each other’s mindset and thought processes and includes reflective parenting work.
The role of Turning Point is to support the family to identify the issues affecting the stability of the home and support, enable and empower them to mentalise and adapt to make the required changes in order to begin working together towards forming a cohesive family unit. This can include mediation and/or family group conferencing. In addition, Turning Point has Speech and Language Therapists within the team and positive activities practitioners that support in enhancing the Turning Point offer to families.
About the role
As the Assistant Team Manager of Turning Point, you will be responsible, alongside the Team Manager, for the leadership and management of a multi-disciplinary team of practitioners including Adolescent support hub practitioners, positive activities coordinator, positive activities assistant coordinator and Speech and Language Therapists, ensuring that vulnerable children and their families receive responsive services that safeguard, promote their welfare and strengthen family relationships. You will oversee, guide and support the Turning Point Adolescent Support Hub Practitioners alongside the Team Manager, to develop, implement and review intervention to support best outcomes for children and their families that empowers and enables the family to work together to strengthen relationships and remain living as a family. You will lead and promote the AMBIT model of intervention, based around life story, life experience, mentalisation and trauma informed intervention, enabling young people and their parents/carers to understand each other’s mindsets and thought processes, in addition to promoting reflective parenting.
About you
You will be an experienced practitioner who is enthusiastic, passionate and knowledgeable about working with children, young people and their families to support and enable them to strengthen family relationships. You will have previous experience of supervising and managing practitioners adopting a systemic practice and reflective practice approach. You will be professional, dynamic and lead with care and compassion. You will have excellent communication skills with families and a wide range of practitioners and partners. You will have experience of chairing multi-disciplinary meetings and be able to manage and direct resources appropriately and make decisions in the interests of children and their families, in line with the role requirements outlined in the job description and employee specification. You will be experienced in considering a range of complex needs for children, young people and their families and be confident in your consideration of needs and risks, supporting in identifying robust help and support for children, young people and their families and support in achieving positive outcomes. You will be comfortable with data analysis and report writing and will be able to work well with partner agencies both internally and externally. Above all, you will be driven to make positive changes for our children, young people and families in Walsall and invested in the development of the staff and service.
Why work for us:
Our staff are our biggest resources, and we want to invest in them! We have a great range of benefits available to us as Council employees. These benefits include discounts for holidays, groceries, clothes, electrics and gym membership; financial benefits, expenses, flexible leave and professional development. Our model of work is hybrid, you will work 2-3 days office based (or as required) and the ability to work from home. We also offer a 9 day per fortnight pattern of working for our practitioners. You will be respected and valued and feel a part of a connected team and service.
For all enquiries regarding this role, please contact Jodie Berry, Team Manager at Jodie.Berry@Walsall.gov.uk.
Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them.
Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Assistant Team Manager - Turning Point - Ref: CH04726 in Walsall employer: Walsall Council
As a School Organisation Officer, you will join a supportive and dynamic team dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for children. Our organisation values professional development, offering numerous growth opportunities and a collaborative work culture that prioritises employee well-being. Located in a vibrant community, we provide a meaningful role where your contributions directly impact the lives of families and children in the area.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Team Manager - Turning Point - Ref: CH04726 in Walsall
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Walsall Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Walsall Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Walsall Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Walsall Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Team Manager - Turning Point - Ref: CH04726 in Walsall
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Walsall Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Walsall Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Walsall Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.